The life of our world, the life of God’s world

Rev. Peter E. Bauer

United Church of Christ Minister

Years ago, I served with an Army Reserve Officer. This person was an expert in public affairs administration and was an information technology genius. These people are always good to have as your allies. We were both assigned to an organization which was providing access to

health care and Mental Health care and other services to Army Reservists, family members and to retirees.

One day I was talking with this colleague, and I noticed that they were staring at their computer screen and they just sort of drifted away in attention. For the next 40 minutes I heard that this person had been deployed to Baghdad Iraq just two years before. They oversaw the IT operations for their unit.

The Army Officer ended up having to abruptly leave their IT software company unattended. This was a grave concern for this person. Their spouse was working hard to try and do everything possible to keep the company alive during the deployment. Yet despite all the valiant efforts to keep the company open, to pay vendors etc., the company folded, and closed its doors.

As this officer described what had happened, they continued to stare off into space, attempting to keep composure. Losing the company was a huge loss for this individual, it was like losing a part of their body.

Now recalling this event years later was equally poignant and did not diminish at all the pain endured regarding this casualty.

When civilians, citizen soldiers are deployed to a war zone, it’s not unusual to hear people say that they missed the birth of their child, that they experienced the death of a family member, and they weren’t able to attend the funeral.

But I had never heard anyone say that they lost their business and their livelihood.

This does make sense appreciating again how losses during war can take different manifestations.

Our frustration regarding this situation is much like in the tone of the TV Anchor in the movie “Network “(1976) when the Peter Finch character encourages his listeners to get up off the couch, go to the window, open it up and scream outside.

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

How many of us have had our own “Peter Finch in Network” moment?

Theirs’s a lot to be mad about isn’t there? Hunger, injustice discrimination to LGBTQ people and to people of color, those who are disabled, etc., war, forced migration, income inequality, the suffering of women and of children. Ubiquitous violence due to the proliferation of weapons and policies like Open Carry that pose potential safety concerns to people.

I have lived here since 1997, and I still don’t know why Texas still scores 48,49 and 50 respectively about Health Care, Education and the Environment.

The life of our world can be a challenge. Sometimes, it can mean mustering all that you have to move forward. Anyone who has faced a major change in their health prompting disability or impairment, anyone who has experienced a divorce after a long marriage, anyone who has suffered a family tragedy involving Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, Dementia and Cognitive decline or suicide with a young person or with an elder knows that dealing with these challenges take everything and beyond regarding what one can muster.

So, what is the life of God’s world?

First, life in God’s world, manifesting itself through the presence of kingdom of God is about internal personal transformation. It’s easy for individuals and congregations to say:

“Well, this didn’t work out the way I wanted it to, therefore it must be these external people who are to blame!” Everything becomes viewed through an external locus of control lens and there is no reflection regarding an internal locus of control i.e., where is my part in this, where is my culpability?

Jesus says it himself to his disciples and those who gathered to hear him.

“Stop grumbling among yourselves!”

Being left out does not feel good, it can lead to further schism and division and can cause real barriers about future growth spiritually and numerically.

Jesus says that he gives his life to us, and he says that he will give for the life of the world.

The life of God’s world is about giving to others without giving a second thought about what it can mean for me nor what I can gain from it.

This is a radical turnover and contrast to our life in the world which is also about transactions. What can you give me? What can I choose to give you? What’s in it for me if I do give this

for you?

As a former President said when he visited the foreign graves of those who fought and who were killed during World War I.

“What was in it for them? I don’t get it. They must have been losers, they were suckers.”

Bob Dylan reminds us:

While preachers preach of evil fates

Teachers teach that knowledge waits

Can lead to hundred-dollar plates

Goodness hides behind its gates

But even the president of the United States

Sometimes must have to stand naked.

(It’s Alright Ma)

The life that is in God’s world is marked by charity, grace, forgiveness and concern for

the welfare of others.

It’s up to us,

What will we do?

May it be so now and always.

Rev. Peter E. Bauer is a United Church of Christ minister. He has been a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and Medium.Com.